Improvement in steam vacuum-pumps



C. H. HALL. Improvement in Steam Vacuum-Pumps.

Patented Sep. 24, 1872.

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UNITED STATESA PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. HALL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM VACUUM-PUMPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,538, dated September 24, 1872.

VOnsE X.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. HALL, of New York city, in the State of New York, have invented a certain Improvement in Steam Pumping Apparatus, of which the following is a specification:

The invention relates to that class of pumping apparatus in which the steam is admitted into the same chamber or chambers as the water and presses upon the surface thereof. The working parts are small relatively to the capacity for pumping, and the apparatus constitutes an efficient pumping means, operating rapidly and reliably. I employ strong chambers provided with valves for admitting water and holding it against its return, and also with valves for allowing it to be expelled through another pipe to be conducted to an elevated reservoir or to such other point as may be desired; and the operations of being filled with water and being discharged succeed each other by reason of a change of position of the steam valve or valves governing the admission of steam from a boiler or steam-generator, which may be situated at a distance. There are two equal chambers in each set of the apparatus, the two filling and emptying alternately. The chamber which is lling with water should complete its iilling before its mate is elnptied, and the change of the steam-valves is effected automatically on the completion of the emptying of the discharging-chamber.

The following is a full and exact description of what I consider the best means of carrying into eect one form of the invention. The accompanying drawing forms a part of this specification.

This form is shown in vertical section in Figure l and in plan view in Fig. 2. Here lthe steam-valves e1 e2 are connected by a ilexible chain, e, which runs over a pulley, G,

turning upon a fixed center. When the valve.

e1 closes it opens the valve e2 by means of the chain e, and the same action occurs in the opposite chambers. This construction allows the action to be as strong as may be required, while its iexibility allows the valves to adapt themselves more perfectly to their seats than would be practicable with a rigid connection. II is a feather-spring, of thin brass, steel, or other suitable material, xed rmly at the upper end, and acting between two links or stops on the chain so that at each extreme of the motion the spring H exerts a gentle pressure, tending to bring the chain and its connections back again toward the central position. I propose to employ any ordinary means of adjustment to regulate both the position of this spring and its tension. It is important that it exerts a gentle force at each end of the motion, and that the force be not so great as to prevent the apparatus from operating. An important elfect is induced by this spring and its connections when properly adjusted. It holds the valves a little time in or near their middle position-that is to say, during the interval after the chamber A2 has been filled with water and before the water has been all expelled from the chamber A1. The valve el remains open to continue the admission of steam, but the steam-valve e2 is also open to a slight extent. Thus the steam is admitted to the chamber A,2 and the surface ofthe water heated, and the water commences to be expelled before the water ceases to be expelled from the chamber A1,

and the complete change of condition of the steam admission ensues. The eii'ect is to induce a continuous current in the dischargepipe P. y

I have found by experiment that the loss of steam is slight when worked in this manner in uncoated vessels of metal; but I propose, in ordinary practice, to coat the interior ofeach chamber with japan varnish, or with red lead and oil, or with a solution of rubber or the like to serve as a durable non-conductor of heat. I can make the chambers and the several connections of lead, to pump acids, or of glass or other material for any special uses requirin g such. I

What I claim as my invention is as follows:

In combination with the chambers A1 A2, suitable water induction and eduction means, and provisions for receiving steam intermittently into each, I claim the iiexible connections e between the steam-valves e1 e2, adaptd to allow the accommodation of each to its seat while compelling both to move together and mutually act on each other, as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of May, 1872, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

f C. H. HALL.

-Witnessesz ARNOLD Hrmann, W. G. DEY. 

